Folding commode-stool.



W. J. MOORE.

EFOLDING COMMODE STOOL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1918.

1,2;93,509 Patented Feb. 4, 1919. E0 j 11 L 0 WILLIAM J. MODE-E, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JACKSON MALONEY, O F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING COMMODE-STOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4'2, 191%..

Application filed April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,318.

11 all (claim 2'2 may concern lie it known that I. llfnmnw J. Moons. a citizen of the United States. residing at ll ashingtou. in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Commode-Stools of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding commode stools, and is particularly r ustructed to provide a portable commode seat especially designed for the use of childrenand which may be conveniently carried from place to place in the form of a small parcel, or which may be packed-in a.

trunk or medium-sized traveling bag, or placed in a. folded condition in a closet, iu1- der a chair or in the corner of a room.

The objects of my invention are:

First. to construct a stool of the character above indicated which consists of a minimum number of parts which are self-adjusting and self-locking. and all of said parts capable of being easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled at a minimum of cost. V

Second. to construct a stool which may he quickly and readily setup for use by any one and when so set up the parts automatically interlock-and remain firmly in such locked position during the unfolded condition and use of the stool.

Third, other objects and advantages of the invention and its mode of operation will appear from the detailed description to be hereinafter given.

The invention consists of structural characteristics and relative arrangements of the several elements which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts tln'oughout the several figures:

Figurel'is a side view illustrating the preferred form of my invention, in its unfolded condition and ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the stool in its collapsed or folded condition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stool when in its unfolded condition, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates the seat of the stool, made preferably of thin light wood and formed with an opening 11 adapting it for use with any suitable vessel.

12. 12 are the side or supporting legs which by means of hinges 13. 13 are conncctcd at their upper and inner edges to the seat 10, and are of such length that when folded will lie in the same planes and approximately meet at the middle of the seat 10 without overlapping, as shown in Fig. 2. Said supporting legs 12, 12- may be provided with rubber tips 14, 14, to prevent the stool when unfolded and in use from slipping along the floor and at the same time lend to make itnoiseless.

.A rod 15 provided with slots 16. 16 is employed to connect. retain and lock said supporting legs 12, 12 in their unfolded condition which is effected by passing a pin or screw 18 with a winged-head through said slots 16, 16 and into the edges of the legs 12, 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1. 19 is a. washer inserted between the rod 15 and each of the heads of the pins 18. 18 for the purpose of reducing the friction and properl guiding the slotted ends of the rod 15 upon its supporting and connecting pins 18, 18. The outer end of each of the slots 16, 16 is formed with an under-cut extension 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, said extensions when the stool is unfolded and ready for use are so arranged as to incline toward a central plane normal to the rod 15, and form one of the most essential features of the present invention. as will be presently described.

T heparts being constructed and arranged as above described, and the stool being in its folding condition. as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, if the seat 10 is held by the fingers of the hands and reversed so that the said seat 10 is level and the supporting legs 12, 12 are disposed on its underside, the weight of said legs, 12, 12. will cause. them to assume the position shown in Fig. 1. and during this operation the pins 18. 18 will move from the inner ends of the. slots 16, 16to their outer ends, and when said pins 18, 18 reach the outer ends of said slots 16. 16 and the undercut extensions 17, 17, the ends of the rod 15 are enabled also to drop auton-iatically by their weight and permit the pins 18. 18 to engage the inwardly inclined inner edges of the slot extensions 17, 17, as shown in Fig. 1. When the pins 18, 18 so engage the inwardly inclined edges of the slot extensions 17, 17, any pressure on the supporting legs 12, 12 tending to push them from their upright position while supporting the seat 10 and when the stool is in unfolded condition and in use, inwardly to the folded position as shown in Fig. 2, and cause the stool to collapse, is prevented for the reason that said pins 18, 18 react against the inwardly inclined edges of the extensions 17. 17 and tend to depress the ends of the rod 15 and hence prevent said pins 18, 18 fixed to legs 12, 12 from passing into the slots 16, 16. and thereby securely hold the legs 12, 12 in their separated and upright position.

If the stool is in an unfolded condition, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to fold the same, as shown in Fig. '2. all that is necessary to do, is to turn the stool over and rest it on the outer or upper side of the seat 10, when the ends of the rod 15, due to their weight. will drop automatically and free the pins 18, 18 from the slot extensions 17, 17 and allow the supporting legs 12, 12 to he turned down on their hinges 13, 13 until they lie fiat against the inner or under side of the seat 10. It will also be seen that the rod 15 not only has the function of rigidly holding the supporting legs 12, 12 in an upright position and proper relation to the seat 10, but also acts as a guide to properly place a vessel under the seat 10, and after a vessel is so placed, prevents the same from being displaced from its proper position.

From the foregoing disclosure of the construction and manner of using the invention, it will be observed that a commode stool is provided that has extreme rigidity and portability. few parts, but two thicknesses of thin material. adapted to be laid flat in a trunk, automobile, carriage or railway car,

' and capable of use on the ground or over an ordinary closet-seat. Also that the folding stool is composed of as fewparts as possible, which parts are self-ad usting and automatically assume their folded or unfolded position with the least effort, and no projections or sharp edges are. found either in the folded or unfolded condition of the stool.

Also by arranging the length of slots 16, 16, as shown, the pins 18, 18 come in contact with the inner ends of the slots 16,16 when the legs 12, 12 are folded. as shown in Fig. 2, or the outer ends of the slots 16, 16, as shown in Fig. 1, thus securely locking the bar 15 in such a manner as to prevent the ends of the bar 15 from projecting beyond the ends of the seat 10, whether the stool is in its folded or unfolded condition.

hat I claim:

A folding commode stool comprising a seat having an opening, a supporting leg hinged to each of the opposite and outer ends of said seat, a pin attached to the edge of each of said supporting legs, and a rod having a slot with an inwardly inclined extension near the outer and each of its ends, said slot adapted to receive said pin on one of said legs and having a sliding engagement with thesame and a locking engagement with said inclined extension whereby when said seat is in the upper and horizon tal position and the hinged supporting legs are unfolded and made to assume an upright and dependent position, both ends of the rod will automatically fall and permit the pins to be simultaneously engaged by the inwardly inclined extensions of the slots, and when the stool is unfolded and the underside of the seat is on top with the supporting legs projecting upwardly therefrom, both ends of the rod will automatically drop and simultaneously release the pins from the inclined extensions of the slots and permit the legs to be folded against the underside of the seat.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM J. MOORE. 

